Skip to content
POWER ENGINEERING: economics, technique, ecology
ISSN 1813-5420 · e‑ISSN 2308-7382 Open Access · CC BY 4.0
Vol. · Issue 3 · 2026 Oct 12, 2026 TECHNOLOGIES AND EQUIPMENT IN ENERGY

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF PHASE CHANGE PROCESSES IN A HORIZONTAL THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE UNIT WITH OPTIMIZED TUBE LAYOUT AND FINNED SURFACES

IS
Iryna Sukhodub Corresponding National Technical University of Ukraine «Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute», Ukraine
YL
Yevhen Lazariev National Technical University of Ukraine «Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute», Ukraine
Pages54-64 PublishedOct 12, 2026 LicenseOpen Access
PDF (Ukrainian)
VOL · ISS 3 · 2026 85 View issue

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the optimal spatial layout of a heat exchanger tube bundle within a rectangular domain of a horizontal latent heat thermal energy storage unit, and to evaluate the feasibility of employing partial and full cross-shaped configurations of fins to intensify the melting and solidification processes of RT62HC paraffin.

A numerical CFD simulation of unsteady hydrodynamics and heat transfer was performed in a two-dimensional formulation using the finite volume method (specifically, the enthalpy-porosity approach) in ANSYS Fluent. Four configurations were investigated: a baseline tube bundle, a model with an increased tube pitch, and variants with partial and full finning oriented at a 45° angle.

The results indicate that natural convection induces stable thermal stratification, trapping the solid phase in un-finned inter-tube spaces and corners. Full finning increases the initial discharge capacity by a factor of 2.3 (up to 3.5 W). Increasing the vertical tube pitch without adding fins slows down the final stage of charging due to the formation of isolated material blocks.

The findings highlight that the full cross-shaped fin configuration ensures the highest phase change velocity (melting within 160 minutes, solidification within 60 minutes). Concurrently, partial modification of the peripheral zones represents a rational engineering compromise, as it eliminates stagnant "dead" zones and, due to lower PCM displacement, stores 6.3% more thermal energy.

Keywords

#latent heat thermal energy storage #phase change material #tube bundle #finning #natural convection #thermal stratification #numerical CFD simulation

References

  1. Kumar A., Kumar A. Heat Transfer Analysis in Thermal Energy Storage – A Comprehensive Review based Latent Heat Storage System. Energy Storage. 2022. URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/est2.434.
  2. Sarbu I., Dorca A. Review on heat transfer analysis in thermal energy storage using latent heat storage systems and phase change materials. International Journal of Energy Research. 2018. Vol. 43, no. 1. P. 29–64. URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/er.4196.
  3. Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems with Solid-Liquid Phase Change Materials: A Review / N. Zhang et al. Advanced Engineering Materials. 2018. Vol. 20, no. 6. P. 1700753. URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.201700753.
  4. Cieśliński J. T., Fabrykiewicz M. Thermal Energy Storage with PCMs in Shell-and-Tube Units: A Review. Energies. 2023. Vol. 16, no. 2. P. 936. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/en16020936.
  5. Li Z., Zhang X. Dynamics characteristics of steam accumulator using phase change materials with different operation modes: A case study. Journal of Energy Storage. 2025. Vol. 115. P. 115938. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2025.115938.
  6. Optimization of solar phase change accumulator performance under the influence of multiple factors / J. Li et al. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress. 2025. P. 103201. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2024.103201.
  7. Design and evaluation of metal foam horizontal tube-and-shell phase change accumulator: Optimal position distribution of heating tubes / Z. Li et al. International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow. 2024. Vol. 107. P. 109367. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2024.109367.
  8. Experimental investigation on the thermal enhancement of spherical macro-encapsulated phase change material assisted soil heat accumulators / H. Cao et al. Journal of Energy Storage. 2024. Vol. 100. P. 113522. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.113522.
  9. Performance of zeolite- and PCM-based cascade hybrid heat accumulator with cast thermal conductivity enhancers / A. Dmitruk et al. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments. 2023. Vol. 56. P. 102999. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2022.102999.
  10. Design and heat transfer performance enhancement of a novel corrugated plate phase change heat accumulator / Z. Wang et al. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2025. Vol. 249. P. 127242. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2025.127242.
  11. Analysis on the effect of novel topological optimization fin structures considering eccentricity on the heat storage and release characteristics of shell and tube phase change heat accumulator / Y. Chen et al. Journal of Energy Storage. 2024. Vol. 97. P. 112880. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.112880.
  12. Study on temperature distribution optimization and enhanced heat transfer in shell and tube phase change accumulator / X. Wu et al. Renewable Energy. 2025. P. 122469. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.122469.
  13. Enhanced thermal performance of shell and tube phase change heat accumulator with novel biomimetic spider web fins / Y. Liu et al. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2023. Vol. 233. P. 121224. URL https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.121224.
  14. Experimental and numerical investigation of the melting behavior of a phase change material in a horizontal latent heat accumulator with longitudinal and annular fins / A. Hosseini et al. Journal of Energy Storage. 2024. Vol. 82. P. 110563. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.110563.
  15. Voller V. R., Cross M., Markatos N. C. An enthalpy method for convection/diffusion phase change. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 1987. Vol. 24, no. 1. P. 271–284. URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.1620240119.
  16. Heat Transfer Augmentation Using Duplex and Triplex Tube Phase Change Material (PCM) Heat Exchanger Configurations / A. Zaib et al. Energies. 2023. Vol. 16, no. 10. P. 4037. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/en16104037.

License

CCBY 4.0
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

This work is openly licensed — share and adapt freely with attribution to the authors and the journal. View license terms ↗

Copyright (c) 2026 Євген Лазарєв

§ 06 — Related

Similar articles in this journal

Related peer-reviewed studies published in this journal.
View all issues

NONLINEAR CURRENT CONTROL OF AN ALKALINE ELECTROLYZER FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VOLTAGE LIMITATION OF THE CONVERTER

Anton Toropov, Liliia Toropova, Mykhailo Haiko

A nonlinear mathematical model of the current stabilization system is constructed, taking into account the power limitation of the converter, the inertia of the…

#electrolyzer #current stabilization #linear-quadratic regulator #nonlinear control
p. 76-82
10.20535/1813-5420.3.2026.364565

HIGH-RESPONSE DC MICROMOTORS: AN ANALYTICAL METHODOLOGY FOR SELECTING MAGNETIC LOADINGS AND ARMATURE ARCHITECTURE BY THE ELECTROMECHANICAL TIME-CONSTANT CRITERION

Mykhailo Kovalenko, Viktor Grebennikov, Andrii Stulishenko, Yevhen Ihnatiuk

The purpose of the study is to construct a closed, dimensionally consistent SI analytical methodology for estimating and minimizing the electromechanical time constant…

#DC micromotor #electromechanical time constant #dynamic response #magnetic loading
p. 83-88
10.20535/1813-5420.3.2026.369073